Bull case
NDSN would need investors to value it at roughly 42x earnings — about 17x more generous than today's 26x forward P/E. That requires meaningful multiple expansion on top of continued earnings growth.
Wall Street verdict, consensus price target, and analyst rating breakdown — everything needed to frame the risk/reward at today's price.
Three scenarios for where NDSN stock could go
NDSN would need investors to value it at roughly 42x earnings — about 17x more generous than today's 26x forward P/E. That requires meaningful multiple expansion on top of continued earnings growth.
At 32x on FY1 earnings, the base case reflects a reasonable but not stretched valuation. It prices in continued growth without assuming an exceptional setup.
If investor confidence fades or macro conditions deteriorate, a 5x multiple contraction could push NDSN down roughly 20% from where it trades now.
Not financial advice. Model confidence reflects internal scenario assumptions, not a guarantee of returns. Past performance does not predict future results.

Nordson Corporation is a specialized industrial machinery company that designs and manufactures precision dispensing systems for adhesives, coatings, sealants, and other fluids used across manufacturing industries. It generates revenue primarily through its two segments—Industrial Precision Solutions (~60% of sales) serving packaging and consumer goods, and Advanced Technology Solutions (~40%) serving electronics, medical, and industrial applications. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep application expertise and proprietary dispensing technologies that create high switching costs for customers in mission-critical manufacturing processes.
Quarterly beat-or-miss track record against analyst estimates, plus forward revenue and EPS outlook for the next two fiscal years.
| Quarter | EPS (Actual / Est) | EPS Surprise | Revenue (Actual / Est) | Rev Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $2.73/$2.64 | +3.4% | $742M/$724M | +2.5% |
| Q4 2025 | $3.03/$2.93 | +3.4% | $752M/$761M | -1.2% |
| Q1 2026 | $2.37/$2.37 | +0.0% | $669M/$653M | +2.6% |
| Q2 2026 | $2.86/$2.82 | +1.4% | $741M/$729M | +1.7% |
NDSN beat EPS estimates in 4 of 4 tracked quarters. A perfect track record raises the bar for the upcoming report.
Product and geographic revenue mix from the latest annual disclosure, with year-over-year growth by segment.
Latest annual revenue by segment or product family
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Latest annual revenue by reported region
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Current multiples compared to the S&P 500, the company's sector, and its own five-year average.
Fair value est. $256 — implies -13.4% from today's price.
| Metric | NDSN | S&P 500 | Industrials | 5Y Avg NDSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward PE | 25.5x | 18.8x+36% | 21.2x+20% | — |
| Trailing PE | 34.8x | 24.4x+42% | 25.6x+36% | 28.3x+23% |
| PEG Ratio | 2.35x | 1.66x+42% | 1.65x+43% | — |
| EV/EBITDA | 21.2x | 15.2x+39% | 13.9x+53% | 19.0x+12% |
| Price/FCF | 24.9x | 20.7x+21% | 20.0x+24% | 25.4x |
| Price/Sales | 5.9x | 3.1x+91% | 1.6x+278% | 5.2x+13% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 1.91% | 1.21% | 1.07% |
Forward P/E and PEG reflect analyst consensus estimates. Historical averages use trailing ratios where forward data is unavailable.S&P 500 and sector benchmarks both use trailing median P/E — similar readings indicate the broader index and sector are priced alike.
Open valuation toolNDSN generates $718M in free cash flow at a 24.7% margin — 10.5% ROIC signals a durable competitive advantage · returns 2.9% of market cap to shareholders annually.
Revenue, margins, and cash generation
ROIC, leverage, and debt serviceability
~2.9 years to full repayment at current FCF run-rate
How capital is returned to owners
All figures from the trailing twelve months. ROIC uses invested capital (equity + net debt).
Open full ratios pageKey factors that could pressure the stock price, compress the multiple, or weigh on future results.
AI analysis · updated June 18, 2026
Soft industrial demand could lead to missed guidance and weaker margin recovery, driving multiple compression toward historical lows.
Weaker-than-expected margin recovery may pressure valuation and align the stock price with near-term recessionary outcomes.
Potential multiple compression toward historical lows could limit upside despite current consensus price targets.
These are risk mechanisms, not predictions. The key question is which would force a cut to earnings estimates or a lower multiple than the market currently prices in.
Structural drivers behind the upside case and why the stock could outperform over the next 12 months.
AI analysis · updated June 18, 2026
Nordson engineers and manufactures innovative precision technology for diverse end markets, providing fully-integrated systems, after-market parts, and consumables.
Nordson MEDICAL is a global expert in the design, development, and manufacturing of complex medical devices and component technologies.
Nordson designs and manufactures dispensing equipment for consumer and industrial adhesives, sealants, coatings, and biomaterials, serving a wide range of industries.
Nordson's trailing and forward P/E ratios of 35.04 and 26.53 respectively indicate potential valuation appeal, as per Yahoo Finance data.
Nordson operates in the Specialty Industrial Machinery sector, benefiting from niche market positioning and industrial demand.
A real bull case compounds — each driver matters most when it strengthens margins, supports capital returns, and keeps the company above the market's minimum growth bar simultaneously.
52-week range context and price returns across multiple time horizons. Dividend contribution is shown separately in the Capital Return section.
Range context matters because valuation compression and earnings misses rarely hit from the same starting point. A stock already far below its high can still fall, but it is no longer carrying the same embedded optimism as one pressing a fresh peak.
Valuation, growth, and margin comparison against the closest publicly traded peers for this company.
| Company | Mkt Cap | Fwd PE | Rev Grw | Margin | Rating | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NDS NDSN Nordson Corporation | $16.5B | 25.5x | +4.3% | 18.2% | Buy | +9.4% |
ITW ITW Illinois Tool Works Inc. | $76.1B | 23.4x | +2.8% | 19.3% | Hold | +2.7% |
GGG GGG Graco Inc. | $12.6B | 24.3x | +5.1% | 23.0% | Hold | +25.8% |
IEX IEX IDEX Corporation | $16.7B | 26.5x | +5.1% | 14.4% | Hold | +8.8% |
ROP ROP Roper Technologies, Inc. | $34.0B | 15.1x | +8.1% | 21.1% | Buy | +38.6% |
DHR DHR Danaher Corporation | $125.4B | 21.0x | +3.5% | 14.9% | Buy | +30.3% |
This peer comparison reflects companies with similar business models, product lines, or market positioning, supplemented by industry grouping when direct matches are limited.
NDSN returns capital mainly through $306M/year in buybacks (1.9% buyback yield), with a modest 1.06% dividend — combining for 2.9% total shareholder yield. The dividend has grown for 40 consecutive years.
Yield, cadence, and growth quality
How much per-share support comes from repurchases
| Year | Div / Share | YoY Grw | BB Yield | Total Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1.64 | — | — | — |
| 2025 | $3.98 | +86.0% | 2.3% | 3.7% |
| 2024 | $2.14 | -19.5% | 0.2% | 1.4% |
| 2023 | $2.66 | +14.7% | 0.7% | 2.0% |
| 2022 | $2.32 | +28.9% | 2.0% | 3.0% |
Common questions answered from live analyst data and company financials.
Nordson Corporation (NDSN) is rated Buy by Wall Street analysts as of 2026. Of 21 analysts covering the stock, 13 rate it Buy or Strong Buy, 8 rate it Hold, and 0 rate it Sell or Strong Sell. The consensus 12-month price target is $324, implying +9.4% from the current price of $296. The bear case scenario is $235 and the bull case is $492.
The Wall Street consensus price target for NDSN is $324 based on 21 analyst estimates. The high-end target is $345 (+16.6% from today), and the low-end target is $300 (+1.4%). The base case model target is $373.
NDSN trades at 25.5x times forward earnings. The stock trades at a notable premium to the broad market, which is typical for businesses with strong free cash flow and above-average growth expectations. Based on current multiples versus the peer group, the relative model signals slightly expensive versus peers. Whether the stock is over or undervalued ultimately depends on whether consensus earnings estimates are achievable.
The primary risks for NDSN in 2026 are: (1) Industrial demand weakness — Soft industrial demand could lead to missed guidance and weaker margin recovery, driving multiple compression toward historical lows. (2) Margin recovery risks — Weaker-than-expected margin recovery may pressure valuation and align the stock price with near-term recessionary outcomes. (3) Valuation compression — Potential multiple compression toward historical lows could limit upside despite current consensus price targets. Each factor has the potential to pressure earnings or compress the stock's valuation multiple.
Analyst consensus estimates NDSN will report consensus revenue of $3.0B (+4.3% year-over-year) and EPS of $10.34 (+9.9% year-over-year) for the upcoming fiscal year. The following year, analysts project $3.2B in revenue.
A confirmed upcoming earnings date for NDSN is not yet available. Check the Earnings section above for the most recent quarterly report dates and forward estimates.
Nordson Corporation (NDSN) generated $718M in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months — a free cash flow margin of 24.7%. NDSN returns capital to shareholders through dividends (1.1% yield) and share repurchases ($306M TTM).